Betsy / Bitch

“BITCH is probably the only band who actually sounded better after they went commercial.” – Dave Reynolds (Metal Forces/1988)

Betsy Weiss, a.k.a. Betsy Bitch, has been a mainstay in the hard rock and heavy metal scene since the early ‘80s. The Los Angeles-based vocalist’s band, BITCH, was the first band to ever release a record on future indie label giant Metal Blade. BITCH is still active decades later, performing with artists like Doro and Loudness, and playing festivals throughout the globe.

Despite BITCH’s success, Weiss agreed to change the name of the band to BETSY in 1988 to see if it could help them reach a wider audience. Working with producer Chris Minto, the band released an eponymously titled album that same year. The resulting record features some of the most magnetic songs in Weiss’ discography. Songs like “You Want It, You Got It” and “Flesh and Blood” are hook-filled affairs that any fan of Pat Benatar and melodic rock in general will absolutely eat up. The BETSY moniker might have only lasted for the one album, but the material certainly deserves a revisit.

Originally released by Metal Blade, Betsy has been out of print for years now. That’s where Divebomb Records come into the picture. The label secured the rights to reissue the album and worked closely with Betsy Bitch on the expanded liner notes. Not only does the CD include a brand new interview with the singer, it also features photos from her personal archives. If you love hard rock and AOR, the Betsy album deserves a space in your CD collection.